Mount Hood Chapter, PCTA Caretaker Meeting Minutes June 13, 2018, 6:45 Location: Clackamas REI Welcome • Absent: Terry (family), Dana (out of town), Michael Hoch (family), Noelle, Ron (LA). • Welcome: Max Martin, Susan McDonnell Past Events Crews and events since last caretaker meeting: 1. May 10: GTRT – Wahclella Falls Tread Work and Herman Creek Root Wad Removal: Frank and Terry Report: Segment 1: Did tread work and rock removal on approximately 0.4 miles of the Wahclella Falls Trail. Completed reconstruction of the trail at the site of a landslide just north of where the loop section of the trail begins. Also reconstructed the trail at the site of a landslide just north of the second bridge across Tanner Creek. Also removed rocks from other portions of the trail, did some brushing, and rebenched the trail where needed. Segment 2: For the second half of the day we moved to the Herman Creek Trail where we used rigging to remove a very large root wad from the trail and then rebenched where the root wad had been. Made two attempts to remove a second root wad from the trail but were defeated both times due to embedded roots. When this root wad is finally removed, it appears it may take a good portion of the surrounding trail with it. 2. May 10: Let's Celebrate! Frank Fever Report: Celebration of Frank’s amazing work. It was at Thunder Island and they gave out prizes. There were lots of people, there was a cake with his face on it, and it was really fun. 3. May 12: Power Brushing PCT – BOG to Ft. Rains: Leif Report: Power Brushed the PCT (TR2000) from Ft Rains to Bridge of the Gods trail head, along SR14. The tread was also repaired in many places, to remove grass in the tread and to improve areas where there were multiple treads. The trail is in good shape. The brushing was done to keep the black berries at bay for a few more months, as well as all the other vegetation. There was a surprising number of hikers out there, as this has historically been a relatively lightly used trail head. We encountered 25 hikers. • Leif – Frank didn't go. It has been repaired and looks good but will probably need to be done again when in grows back. 4. May 12: Danner Boot 3 stores tabling event: Tammy, Terry, HeyMan Report: We had a table at all three Danner Boot stores in the Portland area. There were 2 volunteers at each store. Danner gave everyone that signed up for volunteer work, a free pair of socks and 20% off any boot they bought that day too. • Tammy – Mike D and a young lady were there. We had a lot of fun. People came and they gave away socks if you signed up for trail work and a discount on footwear. We got there at 10am, they forgot to tell us they didn't open until 11am. 5. May 12: Scouting Little Crater to Road 58: SteveP Report: Pending. • SteveP – Had only 10 logs but when we added a half mile and it doubled the log count. It was 21 logs for the 3 mile stretch, which is still lower than usual. 6. May 13: Logout Sedum Ridge North: Tami and Underbucker Report: We logged out 2-miles of the trail from FS 43 southbound. We did basic maintenance in several spots along the trail, especially in areas where we removed logs. We cleared the drainage at the 2-mile mark where we removed our last log. This drainage was completely choked with maples and cut logs from a logout that was done many years ago. We also did extensive rehab at two locations near the .75-mile mark. Th ese areas contain extensive debris from the 2017 blow down and logout. We removed a total of 46 logs that were all less than 20-inches, six new logs for 2018 and 40 cleaned up from last year. We completed everything I'd hoped to accomplish and a little more. We did all the clean up we possibly could from the 2017 logouts. Wonderful group of volunteers. They did such good work! The Sedum Ridge Section (11-miles) is now completely logged out for the 2018 season. • Tami – 6 logs on the trail. we cut 45 that day that were from last year. We did some treadwork and cleaned up a switchback that was full of logs. We cleared up a lot of little dams that were made from cutting last year. It was a good day. I’m going back up in a couple of weeks. 7. May 15: Tamanous Trail Turnpike: Susan Report: Completed a turnpike project begun during Trail Skills College in April. Dug out and removed an old culvert, installed a new culvert, and constructed a 10 foot section of turnpike which spans the culvert. • Susan – We had a very small New Seasons Market crew of two. A half culvert was dug out and replaced by a full culvert. 8. May 15: Twin Lakes Survey & Logout: Underbucker Report: Surveyed northern and southern halves of Twin Lakes Section on 5/15 and 5/19. Crosscut logout of entire Twin Lakes Section on 5/19. (5.5 miles) Crosscut logout of Twin Lakes Trail (#495) (PCT alternate) (3.1 miles) Minor tread repairs on PCT. No snowpack below 4500'. 1-2 feet above that elevation. 9. May 16: PCT Muddy Fork tread & logout: Pace & Susan Report: Sandy River Trail 770 – improved the north side approach to river crossing by trimming brush and cutting down the bank and clearing rocks. PCT Muddy Fork section (770 trail south to 600 trail) – cleared one log, trimmed brush and replaced a sign at PCT/600 junction that had been taken down to repair. 600 Trail (north from PCT junction) – rebuilt the horse barrier south of Ramona Falls – part of the barrier had fallen down during the winter and was no longer functioning as a barrier to horses. We replaced two cross poles and cut notches on the posts and cross poles and added new lag screws to strengthen the connections. At the Falls we added more rope to the area marked off for rehabilitation, north of the Falls cleared large boulders that had fallen down and were blocking drains and dug out debris in the drains, and cleared two logs. Ramona Falls Trail – cleared one log. Ramona Falls trail is now clear of logs, and the PCT Muddy Fork section is clear of logs from junction with 600 trail north to the Muddy Fork river crossing. 10. May 16: Scouting Lolo Pass South: Peter and Diane Report: First Scouting trip of this season, in preparation for New Seasons crew on June 14th lead by John Vhay. Scouted first mile of trail south from Lolo Pass trailhead. No logs on trail encountered. Following scouting notes on observations are for approximate distances in feet south from the trailhead. Estimated times in man hours (MHr) are for an experienced trail worker, so we'll allow twice that on this crew. Task 1 @ 500 ft: Extend Rock waterbar rest of the way across trail, and clear out drain of brush growth (roddy plant). Est 1 MH (man hour). Task 2 @ 1000 ft: Heavy brushing needed on both sides of trail across flats. Est 200 plus feet of this. Needs both clipping and root dig out for 1 to 2 feet each side of trail. Est 5 to 10 MHr. We will probably leave this to be our last task, for full crew on the way out, so we can adjust quantity to amount of remaining time. Task 3 @ 1800 ft: At start of climb to switchbacks, need slough removal and occasional berm removal of cupped trail leading up to first switchback. Est 2 MHr. Task 4 @ 1850 ft: Add inside trench and in-slope on first switchback. Est 1 MHr. Task 5 @ 2000 ft: 3rd Switchback - Add rocks to divider extension, and cleanup slough etc. Est 1 MHr. Task 6 @ 2100 ft: 5th Switchback - Add water bar below switchback. Est 1 MHr. Task 7 @ 2300 ft: 6th Switchback - Add rocks to divider extension, and flatten and drain. Est 1 MHr. Task 8 @ 2400 ft: 7th Switchback - Block shortcut with branches and logs. Est 1/2 MHr. Task 9 @ 2500 ft: Brushing of Roddys on uphill side. Distributed on next couple switchbacks. Est 1-2 MHr. Task 10 @ 2800 ft - top of switchbacks. This section was mostly snow covered, but we expect similar light tread work and brushing on it. Est 5 MHr. Task 11 @ various: Light slough and berm removal at multiple places along the way. Est 5 MHr. • Peter – Halfway up the switchbacks we hit snow. I'm going tomorrow and will finish going up the switchbacks. The crew for tomorrow is smaller but I'm still going to try to start from both ends. The most severe work will be some brushwork. 11. May 18-23: Logout Timothy Lake and Clackamas Lake, Oak Fork: Tim, Territorial Riders Report: 5-18-18 - PCT south of Rd 42 (Tim & Sara's section) 3 logs, 5 hours 5-19-18 - Group A, Headwaters trail 4 logs, PCT north of Rd 42 (TRBCHO section) 3 logs, 8 hours 5-19-18 - Group B - PCT north of Rd 42 (TRBCHO section) 16 logs, rode South Lake trail and Miller trails with no logs. 8 hours 5-20-18 - Group A - North Lake Trail from dam to PCT 6 logs, 1 log on PCT near Little Crater Lake.